Treks of Elon Musk? Tesla++ #2
from About.com 8/13 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz 9/13
SpaceX – Space Exploration Technologies:
In 2002, Elon Musk started SpaceX. Elon Musk is a long-standing member of the Mars Society – a non-profit organization that supports the exploration of Mars – and Musk is interested in establishing a greenhouse on Mars. SpaceX has been developing rocket technology to enable Musk’s project. SpaceX, was founded in 2002 to build the world’s most advanced rockets & spacecraft with the ultimate goal of extending human life to other planets.
Rockets & Space-ships. Musk designed Falcon 1, the first privately developed liquid fuel rocket to reach Earth orbit, as well as the Falcon 9 rocket & Dragon spacecraft. SpaceX made history when its Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial vehicle in history to successfully attach to the International Space Station on May 25th, 2012. In 2008, NASA awarded SpaceX a $1.6 billion contract for 12 cargo flights to / from the International Space Station, effectively replacing the Space Shuttle. In 2010, SpaceX became the first commercial company to successfully recover a spacecraft from Earth orbit; a feat previously only achieved by a few nations. In 2011, the company started work preparing the spacecraft to carry astronauts under a NASA award. The first manned flights are expected in 2015.
Tesla Motors: In 2004, Elon Musk co-founded Tesla Motors, of which he is the sole product architect. Just in case you hadn’t heard, Tesla Motors builds Electic Vehicles. The company has built: 1) an electric sports car – the Tesla Roadster, 2) the Model S – an economy model four door electric sedan, and 3) plans to build more affordable sub-compacts in the future. As CEO and head of product design at Tesla Motors, Musk oversees strategy for the all-electric American car company he co-founded to design, engineer & manufacture affordable electric vehicles for mainstream consumers. He currently guides development of the Model S, the world’s first premium electric sedan, and Model X, an SUV/minivan.
Tesla Roadster. Previously, he spearheaded design of the original Tesla Roadster, the first battery electric sports car. Four years later, over 2,300 Roadsters drive emissions-free in more than 37 countries Musk developed the business and sales strategy to deliver Tesla vehicles to consumers worldwide and forged partnerships with german Daimler & japanese Toyota, through which Tesla Motors sells electric powertrain systems to those companies for their present & future vehicles.
Tesla’s Batteries & Power Trains will help lessen global dependence on petroleum-based transportation and drive down the cost of electric vehicles. By cooperating with other car manufacturers, we hope to put more electric cars on the road. Every Tesla & other Electrical Vehicle using our technology is a step towards making increasingly affordable electric cars available to the consumer.
SolarCity: In 2006, Musk co-founded SolarCity, a Photo-Voltaic products and services company with his cousin. As chairman of SolarCity, Musk provides strategic direction for the company he conceived to help combat global warming and minimize air pollution. SolarCity is a national leader in clean energy services.
Comments: What do you think of Tesla’s developments?